Twisting arrangement



July 26, 1960 E. J. WRIGHT 2,946,175

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. WRIGHT BY wzmm ATTORNEY 2,946,175mem ARRANGEMENT .Edward J, Wright, Pendleton, S.C., assignor to Deering'Milliken Research Corporation, Pendleton, S.C., a corporation ofDelaware rage on. a, 1956, Ser, No. 613,692

s Claims. c1. 57-583) invention relates to improved apparatus for plyingand twisting strands so as to achieve a plied strand, cord or cablehaving a desired twist in both the overall plied structure, virtuallywithout regard to composition or construction, and is particularlyapplicable to strands of co ton ray nylo o o r te t materials A sustrands or structures are referred to generally in this specificationand the claims simply as yarns or strands, employed interchangeably, andit is intended that these terms include all filaments or assemblages offilaments or fibers, either natural or artificial. The term plying isused herein inthe broad sense of combining any two or more yarns intohelical or entwined relationship rather than in'the strict sense oftwisting only singles yarns togethcr and in the broad sense may ncludethe twisting together of strands of previously twisted single yarns ormulti-ply yarns or cords, each of which when forming a component plystrand of a cord or cable may be referred to as singles strands, orcomponent strands. While the invention is particularly suitable forplying two strands, it can be adapted for assembling three or morestrands, the limit being fixed only by practical considerations. Theterms cable or cor are particularly employed interchangeably to refer tothe plied product comprising two or more yarns or strands in helicallyentwined relationship, and further include constructions in which thecomponent strands are themselves cables or cords or are merely ofsingle. of multiple filament construction.

In the preparation of yarns for use in the manufacture of automobiletires, industrial belts, and in many other instances, it is desirable toply together two, or more strands to form a plied strand or cord havinga particular twist in the singles component strands and either the sameor a different particular twist in the plied strand or cord.

- It is customary in the plied strand, cord or cable art to specify thecord or cable construction through the designation of the singles twistand the cable or cord twist. This designation is normally given as T Twherein T is the singles twist (on a corrected basis as normally used,and as customarily used in the tire cord industry such as designated asZ twist), T being the cable twist per unit of length and as customarilyemployed in the tire cord industry is designated as S twist. There are anumber of factors which make it extremely difiicult to obtain a desiredcord or cable construction with conventional apparatus of the prior art.Among these factorsis that of twist contraction in the formation of thecord, as will be presently discussed, and the requirement of producingvarious cord constructions embodying different combinations of variousnumerically different values for singles twist T andcable twist T Tofurther understand the designation T XT it should be explained that thismeans that a unit length of cable or cord is so plied and twisted thatwhen it is. detwisted T times it will be completely unplied and theindividual component strands making up 2,94%,t Patented July 26, 1960the cable will have a corrected twist of "11 per unit length.

The T per unit length twist on a corrected basis is arrived at bymoasuring the length of the individual strand after strand The correctedbasis singles twist T is then given by the quotient of the number ofturns necessary for detwisting the measured length of the componentstrand divided by the length of this strand prior to detwisting thecomponent strand per so. It will be noted that the fo e n s atesman rototo T1 as des ti the rected singles twist, being the conventional basisfor dssignfiting rst twist by t e reat, a y of users- How t re re nances her T1 s s a ed as d a n t rent sin le s and o s de n T1 s h quotint o the numbe urns c sa y to completely detwist a component strandafter the cable is o m le QQ W Qd di ded y t original cable length priorto any detwisting action, As stated above, this latrer designation isnot the usual one, and in the further discussion of this factor in thisapplication T will be sumed to be de i na ed on a c ec d i As is wellknown in the art relating to the formation of cords and cables, theconventional designation of such cords as having a particularconstruction T T has resulted from the steps involved in theconventional prior ar me hod o ord f rmat n an e nda test method used tocount the twist. The designations T and T are convenient in the practiceof the prior art me hods du to th P t c la Sepa s ep inv ved i m n ooord. ao ord ns t t p io o However, a is Po t d ou bo e h d si a i n T12 by no means accurately portraysthe actual construction of the cord orcable as a finished product. Particularly, it will be noted tha h sin lean s. do n t hav a. twist f T as they lie in the finished cord, but infact mayhave an actual twist quite difierent from T On the other hand,since the system of designation of cord construction has become thecommon and usual one in the art, it is desirable to relate all cordconstructions to this Sta da e tion. gardle of th olme in which the cordis formed. Accordingly, while cord is formed ooo d ns o h n nt nven ionin a c mpl te y di io o m nne om h t. of h Prio a pon which h sy te f dt on b e the de i na i 1 2 is employed in the explanation of theoperation of the apparatus and the various examples which are given forhe formation o var ous o d oons oo a o d to the present invention. Thusthe designation T T is only an artificial one, particularly with respectto the method involved in practicing the present invention, and merelydesignates in the conventional manner the cord formed thereby in orderto indicate that the cord is the same as would be formed in theconventional prior art process described above in which a cord is formedby twisting together a number of strands each having a twist of T priorto twisting together, and in which the final cord per se. has a twist ofT The formation of a cord having any particular desired construction hasbeen in the past a long and tedious one, usually requi ing a number ofindividual and separate apparatus. Even with apparatus in which theentire operation is accomplished without the need for several separateapparatus the prior art process has been comparati'vely slow due to theinherent deficiencies of the apparatus employed. Further, in many casesit has been extremely difficult to maintain precision formation of thedesired cord construction. A further disadvantage ofthe prior artprocesses and apparatus has been the fact that the floor spacerequirements for the necessary apparatus are considerable, thusresulting in poor economy of floor space utilization and resultant highproduct cost. 7

It is therefore an object of-this invention to provide aplying-twisting-winding apparatus which can produce a wide range of cordconstructions at a high production rate, and with very close accuracy.

It is a further object to provide a plying-twisting-winding arrangementwhich requires a comparatively small amount of floor space.

Another object is the provision of an improved apparatus for producingin one continuous operation substantially any desired cord constructionfrom single strands having substantially any original twist therein,within the practical physical limitations of the strands.

A further object is the provision of a plying-twistingwinding apparatusin which the doffing of the finished plied strand package is easilyaccomplished, with a minimum of operator time being required.

Still other objects and many attendant advantages will become apparentto one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aschematic illustration of an arrangement embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial section view of the secondary twisting and windingtake-up section of the apparatus taken on the axial plane through line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is :a schematic illustration of the brake assembly for thetake-up spindle of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating the plypresent invention aplying, twisting and winding appa-' ratus is provided, having a plyingsection disposed in sub stantally vertical relation below a secondarytwist and take-up section, both the plying and primary twist impartingsection and the secondary twist and take-up section being synchronouslydriven in relation to each other and an intermediate positive feedsection in order to maintain a desired twist in both the product cordand the singles strands making up the cord. In this preferred embodimenttwo or more singles strands are plied together by a cord-formingout-feeding spindle in which a first singles strand is passed inballooned fashion about a second singles strand and its supply source,and bringing the first or ballooned strand together with the second orinner strand at a ply point lying substantially on the axis of theballoon and spindle and with the tension and/or linear rate of travel ofthe component singles strands being substantially equalized at the plypoint. The cord is then fed away from the ply point by an intermediatefeeding section vertically disposed above the equalizer capstan anddriven at a selected constant speed in synchronism with the plyingmeans, whereby the cord has a selected constant twist as it proceedsfrom the ply point to the intermediate feed section.

The secondary twist and take-up section of the apparatus includes as animportant element in the novel combination a positively driven annularring which surrounds and is traversed along a braked take-up bobbin theaxis of which is preferably substantially horizontal and above theplying section. The annular ring has a cord guide thereon and ispositively rotatably driven in synchronism with the plying andintermediate feeding sections, the rate of rotation of the annular ringrelative to the rate of linear feed of the cord through the intermediatefeed section thereby determining the amount of secondary twist which isimparted to both the cord and the individual component singles strandsas the cord is wound upon the take-up bobbin. By properly selecting theinitial twist formed in the plied cord or cable per se by the plyingsection and the twist imparted to both the plied cord per se and theindividual singles component strands by the secondary twist and take-upsection (including the positively driven annular ring), a plied cord ofany construction T T may be formed and wound onto the bobbin at muchhigher rates than heretofore possible with previous apparatus. It is ofconsiderable importance that the annular ring is employed in thecombination, and that it is positively driven in synchronism with theplying spindle and theintermediate feeding section, since by thisarrangement the sum total twist formed in the plied cord and the twistimparted to the individual singles or component strands maylie-constantly maintained at a desired value irrespective .of theplying. rate or the diameter of the strand package on the bobbin as itis filled up. A further reason of great importance that a positivelydriven annular ring be employed in combination together with acord-forming out-feedingply-action spindle lies in the fact thattthisparticular arrangement permits the entire combination to be run at averyhigh speed, as well as various speeds of bothhigh andlow order, andwith much more precision than is possible with other arrangements suchas may be found in the prior art.

In the operation of this apparatus, two or more singles strands aretaken from their respective supply packages 1 either as furnished by theyarn or strand manufacturer,

or otherwise as may bedesired, and are plied together in the plyingsection ofthe-apparatus without the necessity of first twisting thesingles strands to a value of T The cord thus plied has a twist thereinas it passes through the intermediate feeding section which is afunction of the rotation rate of the primary plying spindle relative tothe linear rate of travel of the cord as it leaves the ply point andpasses through the intermediate feeding section, while the singlesstrands at this point have a twist as they lay in the cord therein whichis the same as that which was in the singles strands as they were takenfrom their respective sources of supply. The cord then proceeds to thesecondary twisting and take-up-section where a secondary twist isimparted to both the cord per se and the individual singles strandstherein. The amount of this secondary twist which is imparted by thesecondary twist and take-up section of the apparatus, as well as theamount of twist formed in the cord per se by the plying section of theapparatus, is determined by the final cord construction which is desiredto be obtained in the cord as it lies on the take-up bobbin. Indetermining the proper ratios to be employed between the varioussections of this apparatus in the formation of a' particular cordconstruction, it is necessary to consider the effect of each proceduralstep on both the cord and the singles strands.

Referring specifically to the Corrected Singles Twist T which is desiredto be obtained, the factors which must be taken into consideration are:(1) the'Original Twist, or what might be termed the manufacturers twist,in the raw singles yarn or strand, (2) the twist inserted in the cableor cord during the primary plying operation, which will be designatedfor convenience as Primary Machine Twist, and (3) the twist change fromtheoretical in the singles strands as a result of the twist contractionor twist expansion factor for the particular construction, which factorwill be designated as Singles Differential Twist. Of these factors thepertinence of the first mentioned one (Original Twist) is readilyapparent in relation to its effect on the twist in the singles strandsatany particular point in the operation, including the point at whichsingles twist is measured. As to the latter factor (Singles DifferentialTwist), this may be defined as being the difference between the actualtwist value for the Corrected Singles Twist and the algebraic sum ofOriginal Twist and a factor equal and oppositeto the Primary MachineTwist, and with present us'ual tire cord constructions is such as tocause the actual twist to be higher than that expected as a result ofmachine twist and original twist. This factor is a variable dependentupon a number of factors including character (S or Z-direction) andamount of twist (both T and T character and amount of Original Twist,number of plies, diameter of singles strands, and difference in tensionon the strands during the plying and twisting and the standard tensionformed by a true twisting operation.

' of empirical trial and error results for each particular cordconstruction and is then employed as a constant for that construction insubsequent calculations. The factor of Machine Twist might appear atfirst thought not to be of pertinence to the Corrected Singles Twist,since this plying operation places no actual effective twist in thesingles strands as theylie in the cord or cable. However, the pertinenceof Primary Machine Twist becomes apparent when it is considered that theCorrected Singles Twist value is fictitious as regards the actual cordas formed, and only designates the twistper unit length which is in the-singles strands after complete untwisting of the cord or cable per se.Thus, the Corrected Singles Twist T is a value which has a componentfactor therein equal and opposite in sign to the Primary Machine Twistformed in the cable per se.

One may therefore set up an empirical equation for determining CorrectedSingles Twist, given the value of its three component factor values, orfinding any one compenent factor value given the value for CorrectedSingles Twist and the remaining two component factors. Such an equationmay be written as:

Original 'iwist Corrected Singles Twist os'r =(fig (OT) I PrimarySingles i i g Differential (MTI) Twist star The negative sign within theMT bracket indicates that the factor to be added is opposite in twistdirection to that of MT The empirical factor SDT may be either of liketwist direction to that of the algebraic sum of (OT) and (MT or may beopposite in twist direction relative thereto, and is to be addedalgebraically, considering its twist direction.

The factors which must be taken into consideration in arriving at adesired value T for the Final Cable Twist are: (1) the twist (MTdirectly formed in the cable by the primary plying section on theapparatus, (2) the twist (Secondary Machine Twist, MT directly insertedin the cable by the secondary twisting and winding section, and (3) theCable Differential Twist factor which, similarly to the term SinglesDifferential Twist, may be defined as the difference for any particularconstruction between the actual Final Cable Twist and expected FinalCable Twist neglecting all factors other than the algebraic values offactors (1) Primary Machine Twist (MT and (2) Secondary Machine Twist(MT All of these factors are algebraically additive in producing theFinal Cable Twist. The pertinence of Primary Machine Twist (MT as formedin the cable or cord in the plying section, and the Secondary MachineTwist (MT as inserted in cable or cord by the secondary twisting sectionwill be readily apparent. In this connection it will be noted that thesecondary twisting section is actually the only true twisting section ofthe preferred apparatus according to the invention, since the plyingsection only plies and does not twist although the effect is to form acable or cord per so which has a cable twist the same as would be TheCable Difierential Twist factor is similar to that of SinglesDifferential Twist, discussed above, and may be either of a positivelyadditive nature in the sense of serving to increase the algebraic sum ofthe other two factors (MT; and

MT be negative or have a zero effect dependent upon several factors,among which are the direction of MT relative to MT cord diameter,singles twist, the elastic properties of the cord, and the difference intension between that on the cord during processing by this apparatus andthe tension during testing for twist.

7 One may set forth an empirical equation for these relationships whichm y be Wri ten a ebrai a y follows:

, Primary Final Cable Twist (FGT): Machine TwisflMTr).

Secondary Cable Machine Differential TWlSt (MTz) Twist (CDT) It willthus he seen from the foregoing discussion that the rotational rate ofthe primary plying spindle i'elative to the linear rate of feed of theplied cord through the intermediate feed section is adjusted to give aPrimary Machine Twist to the cord er a magnitude (TPI), and direction'(Zor S) such that a TPI value equal and opposite in direction theretowill, when algebraically added together with the Orginal orManufacturers Twist and the Singles Difierentia'l 'Iwist, give thedesired Corrected Singles Twist, T (or Apparent Singles Twist, as may bedesired). The rotational rate of the positively driven ring in thesecondary twisting section relative to the linear rate of feed of thecordfor cable through the intermediate feed section is so adjusted thata twist is inserted in the cord whichfwhen algebraically added to thePrimary Machine Twist and the Cable Differential Twist, will give thedesired Final Cable Twist, T p

Referring to Figure 1,a strand of yarn A from an external source, suchas supply package 11, is fed through an adjustable tensioning assembly13, thence axially shaft 15 through a radial opening 17 in the shaft 15,

'then in variable wrap-around relation about the peripheral surface of awrap-around balloon shape and tension controlling step 19 (whichmay beof conventional constructionlforrned on 'or secured to the shaft 15 forrotation therewith, and in a semi-loop or balloon about the exteriorsurface of a cylind'rical'housing 39, and thence through a pigtail guide26 and in tractive wrap-around relation about one capstan 2 3 in asymmetrical equalizer or metering capstan array generally designated 21to a ply point with another strandB. The equalizer capstan array 21 maybe, and is preferablyeof the type disclosed in an application of NormanE. Klein, Serial No. 512,552, filed June 1, 1955, and as illustratedherein takes the form of a pair of symmetrically arranged cantedcapstans 23, 25, rotatable about individual axes canted with respect toeach other and to the axis of a supporting rotatable rotor 33, which inturn is retatably supported in a supporting bracket 35 suitably securedto the top of housing 39. A drive coupling guide, in the form of apigtail guide '26, is secured to a face of the rotor 33 for coupling thestrand A thereto in driving relation. The capstans 23 and 25 aremechanically synchronously intercoupled through the medium of an idlerface gear 27 which meshes with gear teeth 2? and 31 formed on or securedto respectively the inner ends of capstans 23 and 25. The face gear '27is suitably rotatably mounted on the roto'r 33 so as to be free torotate with respect thereto, thus permitting the speed of rotation ofthe capstans' 23 and '25 about their individual axes to be independentof their speed of rotation as a unit with rotor 33 about the axis ofrotor 33.

Strand B is fed from an internal source of yarn disposed within the thusformed balloon (for example, from a yarn package 37 mounted within acylindrical housing 39, which package and housing are restrained againstrotation as by an off-center weight 41, as shown, or by magnetic action,etc.), through adjustable tensioning apparatus 24 (which is preferablyof the pad or pinch type, e.g. spring or weight pressed interfacingdisc, etc.) and thence about "a guide roller 43 and through an apertureextending through the center of rotor 33, over guide 34, in wrap-aroundrelation about the other capstan 25 of the array 21, and thereuponproceeding to the ply point of the two strands.

'The plied yarn or cord AB is fed from the ply point and through asuitable axially disposed guide 44 by a Constant speed intermediatefeeding section 45, which takes the form of a pair of rolls 47, whichare preferably canted or skewed with respect to each other so as tospread the adjacent turns of cord AB thereon and thus prevent entrapmentduring its passage thereover. Feed rolls 47 are driven at a selectedconstant speed through the medium of a timing belt 49, shaft 50, primarytwist change gear arrangement 51, beveled gears 71, 73, shaft 74, andtiming belt 75 which is operatively connected to a suitable drive sourcesuch as motor M. Motor M is also connected in synchronous drivingrelation to the spindle shaft through the medium of a timing belt 77engaging a gear wheel formed on or suitably secured to the shaft 15.

The twist per unit of length formed in the plied cord AB is determinedby the ratio of the linear rate at which the cord AB is fed away fromthe ply point by the feed roll arrangement 45 relative to the speed ofrotation of the spindle shaft 15 and the balloon of strand A. Thus, byvarying this ratio the primary twist formed in the plied cord AB may besuitably varied within a very wide range. To this end, the primary twistchange gear arrangement 51 is provided, and includes a fine adjustmentchange gear 59 suitablyrotatably mounted on a swing arm 67, as throughthe medium of a bushing 57 to which is removably secured change gear 59,and which is retatably mounted on a stub shaft 65 secured to the swingarm 67. Swing arm 67 is split and is adjustably rota-, bably mounted ona suitably fixed bushing support 69 by means of a securing bolt and nut70. Bushing support 69 has a low friction bearing therein, in which isrotatably mounted the shaft 50. Also suitably removably secured to thebushing 57 is a gear 55 which meshes with a gear 53 secured onto theshaft 50 which drives belt 49. .With the motor turning in the directionillustrated, the fine adjustment change gear 59 meshes with an idlergear 6 1 in order to initially form an S twist cord AB, while in orderto initially form a Z .twist cord AB the idler gear 61 is removed fromoperative engagement in the gear train, the line adjustment change gear59 is meshed directly with gear 63, and the direction of drive from themotor M is reversed. This reversalof twist formation is facilelyaccomplished through the removal of idler gear 61 and by a smalldownward angular movement of the swing arm 67 to bring the gear 59 intomeshed engagement with gear 63. In order to change the amount of primarytwist inserted, it is merely necessary to change the fine adjustmentchange gear 59, and/ or the range or coarse adjustment change gear 63,de pendent upon whether a relatively small or a large twist change isdesired.

Synchronously tied in with spindle 15 and feed roll arrangement 45, asthrough a drive connection from motor M, is a secondary-twist, take-uparrangement 101, which is capable of exceptionally high speed operationas well as being arranged to provide a constant secondary twist to thecord AB as it is Wound onto a bobbin 1% or other carrier. It will beunderstood as the description proceeds that while the twist, take-uparrangement 191 is referred to for, convenience as a twist arrangement,it may be utilized to either add to or sub-tuact from the twist insertedby the original plying action of spindle 15 and equalizer capstan 21.

It is an important aspect of this invention that the plying and take-uparrangement lends itself to high speed operation and that the apparatusis adapted to utilize a minimum of floor space. To the end that aminimum of floor space is employed, in the preferred embodiment thesecondary twist take-up section is disposed vertically above the plyingsection, although a satisfactory arrangement may by modification beprovided with the plying section inverted and above the secondary twisttakeup section, or may be otherwise provided with a sacrifice of thisadvantage, if desired.

The drive connection from the motor M to the secondary twist take-uparrangement 101 includes timing belt 75,-shaft 74, timing belt gear 76,timing belt 80, shaft 82, change gear arrangement 81, toothed drum 93and timing belt 95 which positively engages a rotatable annular ring103. In order to achieve the desired drive connection between driveshafts 74 and 82 in the illustrated embodiment, the timing belt ispassed through a f change of direction through the medium of a pair ofidler rollers 79.

The change gear arrangement 81 is similar to the previously describedchange gear arrangement 51 (with the input and take-oif points beingmerely reversed), and will therefore not be described in further detailexcept to note that the gears 83 and 85 are removable and are employedas range or coarse adjustment change gears, while the gear 89 is thefine adjustment change gear and the gear 91 is an idler reversing gear.

As mentioned briefly above, the secondary twist take up arrangement 101includes a rotatable positively driven annular ring 103 which referablyforms the elongated inner race of a ball bearing assembly (see Figure2), the outer race 105 of which is suitably secured to a ring rail 107as through the medium of securing screws 109. The annular ring 193 hasan eyelet guide 111 formed therein, as illustrated, or suitably securedthereto, and is disposed in concentric relation about a rotatablebobbinsupporting spindle 113 and an apex guide 97 which may be suitablypivotally mounted as indicated at 98 for i pivotal movement out of thebobbin loading path for ease of dofiing and donning..- T he spindle 113may be of any suitable construction for supporting a desired strand orcord carrier, such as bobbin 1%, and in the illustrative embodimentincludes a spindle shaft 114 rotatably mounted in a pair of spaced apartbearings 115 and 117 which are press fit into a bolster 11% secured to aspindle rail 121. The annular ring 103 has timing gear teeth 1&4 formedon one peripheral end thereof which are engaged in driving relation bytiming belt 5, while the other or outer extended end has eyelet guide111 formed therein. The bobbin me is preferably positively keyed to thespindle 114 in any conventional or desired manner, as indicated at 116,and may be secured on the spindle in any suitable or desired manner, asby a tapered end screw 118 adjustably mounted in the outer end of thespindle, which may be longitudinally split for adjustable expansion bythe tapered screw 118 to selectively lock the bobbin in place thereon,and release the bobbin therefrom. I

Any suitable braking means may be provided for the spindle 114 such aselectromagnetic, magnetic, mechanical friction (including friction discand friction band types), and viscous friction types. In theillustratederc ample a brake drum 123 is suitably secured to the lowerend of spindle 114 as by a spline or key connection 124 .the tension inthe brake strap 127 andthus the degree of braking force exerted on thespindle shaft 114. R0- tation of adjustment shaft 131 may beaccomplished as through a knob 134 secured thereto, while retention ofthe shaft in the desired angular position may be accomplished as byemploying a tight friction fit between bushing 135 and shaft 131 or by aset screw, ball detent, or other suitable retention arrangement. 1

A relative traversing motion may be imparted to the ring 103 and, bobbin100 by reciprocating either the ring I rail 107 or the spindle rail 121(or both). In the illustra't'ed embodiment 'the ring fail is arrangedfor r'ecipr'oeating traverse movement and the spindle rail isstationary. To this end ring rail 107 is slidably mounted on spacedapart guide bars 108 suitably secured to the frame 110 andhas a camfollower arm 141 secured thereto, which engages with a heart cam 143fixedon shaft 144. Inorder'to maintain the follower 141 in engagementwith thehea'rt earn 143 a flexiblecable'157, having a depending weight Wattached thereto, is entrained over a guide re11er159 and secured to theringrail.

' Shaft14'4 is rotatably driven by a worm wheel 1 35 thereon which" ismeshed with worm 147 on shaft 149, which in turn is driven as" by a beltor chain 151 mounted in driving relation 'on toothed wheels 153 and 155secured respectivelyon shafts 50 and 1451' The heart earn 143 i'sthusrotated in synchronism with the movement of the remaining'elements ofthe combined system and serves to impart a reciprocating traverse motionto the i'ing rail 107 and thus to the positively driven annular ring103.

It will be noted that in order to accommodate the lateral traversingmovement of timing belt 95 as'it follows the traverse path of theannular ring 103, the timing belt drive gear 93 is elongated and forms atoothed drum engaging in drivin g relation the timing belt 95 (asdescribed above).

' It" will be readily apparent that while a single motor drive isprovided for the spindle 15, feed roll arrangernent 45, and secondarytwist and take-up arrangement 101, and such is the preferred and mostadvantageous arrangement; each of these portions of the apparatns mightbe driven from a separate source, if desired, so long as each ismaintained in synchronisrn with the other as through the use ofSynchronous drive motors. Further, it will be obvious that the variousdrive connections might be effected in other and ditfeernt ways than asillustrated; for example, one might utilize a greater preponderance oftiming belt drive connections in order to minimize or substantiallyeliminate the various problems encountered in direct high speed gearconnections while still maintaining positive drive couplings or thevarious sections and parts thereof might be interconnected, in differentdrive relationship (such as driving the shaft 82 through shaft 50,instead of taking the connection on at shaft 74 as illustrated).

In a typical operation of the preferred embodiment, strand A is fedthrough the hollow spindle 15, in wraparound engagement with thewrap-around tension and balloon control means 17, from which" itproceeds in ballooned fashion by virtue of its linear travel and thecentrifugal throwing action of spindle 15,'through the equalizer capstanarray 21 where is engages tractively in wrap-around relation withmetering capstan 23, proceeding then to the plypoint with a secondstrand B. The

second or inner strand B is fed upwardly past guide roller 43 andthrough the axial bore in the rotor 33, thence over guide 34and intractive wrap-around engagement with metering capstan 25, and then tothe ply point with strand A.

The plied strand or cord AB is then fed at a constant selectedlinearrate through axially disposed guide 44 by means 'of the feed rollarrangement 45 over which the plied strand AB passes in tractivemultiple wrap-around relation. The -primary twist imparted to the pliedstrand AB may be varied as desired by suitably changing either or bothof the gears 59 or 63, and the direction of twist may be facilelyreversed through the reversal of motor M and the removal of idler gear61 and the adjustment of swing arm 67 so as to mesh gear 59 with gear63.

The plied strand AB proceeds at a constant rate from the feed rollarrangement 45 to the secondary twist and take-up arrangement 101, whereit is wound upon the bobbin 100/ In its travel from the rollers 47 ofthe feed roll arrangement '45 the plied strand passes through axial newguide '97, then in a ballo onj about the bobbin and through the guideeye 111 in the ring 103, which is positively "rotatedand' thus imparts aconstant secenaar' twist to the cord AB and to the individual componentstrands A and B as the cord is wound onto thebobbin 100. It will beapparent tliat'the'plied cord'AB being wound onto the bobbin 100 willcause the bobbin to rotate against the action of brake strap 127 at anincreasing angular velocity as the strand package on the bobbinincreases, the instant bobbin velocity at any time being the difierencebetween the rate of rotation of annular ring 103 and the quotient of thelinear rate of feed of cord AB divided by the instant circumference ofthe cord package at any particular time during the operation. The amountof secondary twist added to or subtracted from the plied cord AB and theindividual strands A and B therein may be readily varied as desiredthrough the changing of either the range gears'83g', '85 or the fineadjustment gear 89," or both. The direction (i.e., additiveor""subtractive) of secondary twist imparted by the secondary twistarrangement 101 is determined by the inclusion of 'or omission of theidler gear 91 in the change-gear arrangement 81which is dependent inturn upon the direction of'primary plying twist inserted by the plyingand intermediate feeding sections. For instance, with'the motor Mturning in the direction shown in Figure 1, and with idler 'gears' 61and Stl' operatively connected in their respective change" geararrangements, the plying section comprisingspindle 15 and equalizercapstan "2'1 willform a cord having 'an' S twist (PMT) therein themagnitude of which will be dep'endentupon the gear ratios employedfor'change gears 59'a'nd 63; while the seco'ndary twist and take-up ring1% 'will insert a Z twist (SMT) in the cord 'AB and the componentstrands thereof, thus in effect addingto the singles twist effect andsubtracting from the cord or cable twist'eifect resulting fromthe plyingaction.' By merely removing the idler gear 91 the secondarytwist'andtake-up section 101 will impart an S twist to the cord AB in addition tothe S twist formed in'the cord AB by the plying section. I To obtain a Ztwist (MT in the plying section and an'S twist (MT in the secondarytwist and take-up section, the motor 'M is reversed,'idler gear61 isremoved and idler gear 91 is' utilized'as shown. A Primary Machine Twist(MT of Z direction with a Secondary Machine Twist (MT of direction isobtained with'bo'th idler gears 61 and 91 removed, and with the motorreversed in direction'from that shown. Obviously, however, reversalgearing arrangement or other reversal arrangement might be provided forreversing the direction of rotation of' spindle shaft 15 withoutnecessitating reversal of'n'iotor M, if desired. s l

The ring rail 107 (which may suitably be employed to traverse aplurality of annular rings 103 for a corresponding plurality'of similarply-twistwind positions) is. traversed in a reciprocating fashion bythe'rotation of heart cain 143 and'themovement of earn follower 141whichis maintainedin continuous engagement therewith through the action'ofweight W on ring tall 107 and the follower 141.

The following typical examples illustrate typical variations in thefactorsinvo'lved in making various cord constructions on an apparatusaccording to thepresent invention Example I Cord Construction as woundonto bobbin: -0 denier,

2 ply, rayon cord; 11.74 Z x 9.96 S

Supply Yarn: 1650 denier continuous filament, Du Pont Type 258 Super,720 filaments/strand; having an OT of 2.13 Z.

1.1 v p I Example II Cord Construction: 840 denier, 2 ply, nylon 12.06 Zx 10.51 S Supply Yarn: 840 denier continuous filament nylon, 34

filaments/ strand, having an OT of .4 Z.

cord;

T =12.06 Z MT =1.135 Z T =l0.5l S SDT=.14 Z OT=.4 Z CDT=.125 S MT =l1.52S

Example Ill vCord Construction: 2200 denier,.2 ply, rayon cord;

. 9.99 Z x 9.01 S

Supply Yarn: 2200 denier continuous filament, Du Pont Type 168 Super,having an OT of zero.

1 While the preferred and most advantageous arrangement is embodied inthe species combination employing a ply-action equalizer array asillustrated, in which the strands are plied together at a Y ply point,other outflow types of plying apparatus might be employed withinintermediate feed are employed; however, the singles and cabledifferential twist factors maybe difierent for other plying apparatus asused in this overall system.

It will be apparent that many modifications and alternative embodimentsmay be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thisinvention, and it is therefore to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited by the illustrative embodiment shown herein, but onlyby the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:'

I. Cord forming and winding apparatus comprising rotatable plying meansfor plying two strands together under substantially constant tension;positively driven rotatable twister take-up means including a spindle, arotatable annular cord twisting and winding ring disposed in surroundingrelation about said spindle; intermediate cord feeding means operativelydisposed in flow relation between the output point of said rotatableplying means and the input point to said take-up means; said drive meansbeing operatively synchronously connected to each of said plying means,cord feeding means, and annular ring, whereby a cord is formed having aselected substantially constant singles twist and cord twist, meansadapted to effect longitudinal traversing motion between said ring andsaid spindle, a ball bearing having an inner and an outer race, saidring forming the inner race of said bearing, said inner race being oflonger cylindrical length than the outer race of said bearing andforming a longitudinal extension at each longitudinal end of said outerrace, one of said longitudinal extensions having gear teeth thereon,said drive means including a positively acting connection to said gearteeth, and a cord guide eye formed on the other of said extensions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear teeth are timinggear teeth, said positively acting connection including a timing belt inoperative engagement with said gear teeth.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said teeth are boundlaterally by two annular flanges, one being formed at each longitudinalside thereof to prevent lateral displacement of the timing belt fromsaid teeth.

4. Cord forming and winding apparatus comprising rotatable plying meansfor plying two strands together under substantially constant tension;positively driven rotatable twister take-up means including a spindle, arotatable annular cord twisting and Winding ring disposed in surroundingrelation about said spindle; intermediate V l2 cord feeding meansoperatively disposed in flow relation between .the output point of saidrotatable plying means and the input point to saidtake-up v means; anddrive means operatively synchronously connected to each of said plyingmeans, cord feeding means, and annular ring, whereby a cord is formedhaving a selected substantially constant singles twist and cordtwist,.said plying means, feeding means, and twister take-up means beingdisposed in substantially vertical alignment one above the other, saidtake-up spindle being disposed substantially horizontally, said ringbeing rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis coaxial with saidspindle axis.

5. Cord forming and winding apparatus comprising rotatable plying meansfor plying two strands together under substantially constant tension;positively driven rotatable twister take-up means including a spindle, arotatable annular cord twisting and winding ring disposed in surroundingrelation about said spindle; intermediate cord feeding means operativelydisposed in flow relation between the output point of said rotatableplying means and the input point to said take-up means; and drive meansoperatively synchronously connected to each of said plying means, cordfeeding means, and annular ring, whereby a cord is formed having aselected substantially constant singles twist and cord twist, saidplying means, feeding means, and twister take-up means being disposed insequential ascending order as named one above the other.

6. Cord forming apparatus comprising rotatable means adapted to ply twostrands together; means adapted to advance the strands at a selectedconstant rate to'and away from the ply point; twister take-up means forthe plied cord formed by plying said strands and comprising a positivelydriven annular ring having a strand guide thereon for reception andtwisting of said plied cord as it proceeds therethrough, a take-upspindle rotatably disposed within said ring, a brake adapted to retardrotation of said spindle; and means for synchronously driving saidrotatable plying means, advancing means, and rotatable ring, whereby aplied construction of desired singles and cord twist is formed, saidbrake comprising a brake band, a brake drum on and rotatable with saidspindle and engaged by said band, a brake adjusting shaft laterallyoffset from said spindle, and a resilient connection between said bandand said shaft.

7. Ply action and twisting apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft havinga longitudinal bore and a transverse bore formed therein and connectingbetween two spaced apart exterior points on the periphery of said shaft,first and second strand equalizer metering capstans mechan icallyintercoupled for synchronous rotation each about an axis canted withrespect to each other and about a common axis coaxial with the axis ofsaid shaft, strand guiding means disposed between said capstans and c0axial with said common axis, a take-up spindle, brake means for saidtake-up spindle, a ring rail, an annular ring rotatably mounted on saidrail and in surrounding relation about said spindle, a strand guide onsaid ring, means for traversing said rail and ring longitudinally alongsaid spindle, strand feeding means disposed in flow relation'betweensaid equalizer, metering capstans and said annular ring and take-upspindle, and means for driving said shaft, feeding means and ring insynchronous relation one with the other.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a strand guideaxially aligned with and axially spaced from said spindle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rotatable shaft andassociated metering capstans, said feeding means, and said spindle aredisposed in sequential order one above the other.

10. Strand plying and twisting apparatus comprising means adapted tothrow a balloon of a first strand about a source of supply for a secondstrand; means for metering said strands to a ply point each atsubstantially the same rate and tension; strand feed means arranged insubsequent flow relation to said ply point and adapted to positivelyfeed said strand away from said ply point; and twisting and take-upmeans disposed in subsequent flow relation to said feed means, saidtwisting and takeup means comprising rotatable means for receiving theplied and twisted combined strands, a rotatable annular ring surroundingsaid receiving means and having a strand glide eye thereon; means fortraversing said ring along said receiving means; and means adapted topositively drive said balloon throwing means, strand feed means and ringin synchronous relation with each other.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive means comprisesa single motor and timing drive belts operatively connecting said motorto each of said balloon throwing means, strand feed means, and ring.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein means are provided forselectively varying the synchronous relation of said balloon throwingmeans, strand feed means and ring.

13. In combination a generally vertically disposed plying spindle and atwister take-up spindle arrangement having a horizontal take-up axisdisposed vertically above said plying spindle, said plying spindle axisbeing vertically inclined, said take-up spindle axis extending insubstantially the same direction horizontally as the horizontalcomponent of inclination of said plying spindle axis.

14. Apparatus for twisting and winding a strand comprising a take-upspindle, a ball bearing having an inner and an outer race, said innerrace forming a cord twisting and winding ring disposed in surroundingrelation about said spindle, said inner race being of longer cylindricallength than the outer race of said bearing and forming a longitudinalextension at each longitudinal end of said outer race, one of saidlongitudinal extensions having gear teeth thereon, and a cord guide eyeformed on the other of said extensions.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further including drive means havinga positively acting connection to said gear teeth, said drive meansincluding a rotatable drum having longitudinally extending teeth formedabout the periphery thereof along its longitudinal axis and a toothedbelt connection between said gear drum and said gear teeth on said innerrace of said bearing, and means for efiecting relative reciprocal motionbetween said ring and said drum along a path parallel to the axis ofsaid drum and said spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS641,398 Lodge Jan. 16, 1900 2,503,242 Clarkson Apr. 11, 1950 2,737,773Clarkson Mar. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 717,546 Great Britain Oct. 27,1954 826,716 Germany Nov. 4, 1952 1,099,309 France Mar. 16, 19551,119,701 France Apr. 9, 1956

